Process of preparing blood cell protein from hemoglobin

Abstract

Tasteless and odourless blood cell protein isolate and heme are prepared from hemoglobin by converting the hemoglobin into a solid form by dehydration and extracting the heme from the solid product by solvent extraction with an organic solvent, preferably methanol or a methanol/ethanol mixture or a methanol/ethanol/water mixture, in the presence of acid, preferably hydrochloric acid, and recovering the blood cell protein isolate from the extraction residue. The acid may also be added to the hemoglobin before its conversion into the solid form.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process of preparing bland blood cell protein isolate from hemoglobin, which comprise converting the hemoglobin into a solid form by dehydration, extracting the heme from this solid by solvent extraction with an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of (a) methanol, (b) a mixture of methanol and ethanol, and (c) a mixture of methanol, ethanol and water, said extraction being effected in the presence of sufficient acid to effect a pH below 3.5, and recovering the blood cell protein isolate as the extraction residue. 
     
     
       2. A process according to claim 1, in which at least part of the acid is present in the organic solvent. 
     
     
       3. A process according to claim 1, in which at least part of the acid is present in the solid hemoglobin. 
     
     
       4. A process according to claim 1, in which the acid is added to the hemoglobin solution before conversion of the hemoglobin into solid form by dehydration. 
     
     
       5. A process according to claims 1,2,3 or 4, in which the acid is hydrochloric acid. 
     
     
       6. A process of preparing bland blood cell protein isolate from red blood cell concentrate, which comprises combining the red blood cell concentrate with a strong acid to pH value below 3.5 with vigorous stirring, converting the acidified solution into solid form by dehydration, separating the heme from this solid product by solvent extraction with an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of (a) methanol, (b) a mixture of methanol and ethanol, and (c) a mixture of methanol, ethanol and water, and recovering the bland blood cell protein isolate as the extraction residue. 
     
     
       7. A process according to claim 6, in which the strong acid is hydrochloric acid. 
     
     
       8. A process of preparing bland blood cell protein isolate from red blood cell concentrate, which comprises spray-drying the red blood cell concentrate in the presence of sufficient gaseous hydrochloric acid to effect a pH below 3.5, extracting the heme from the solid, acid red blood cell concentrate thus obtained with an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of (a) methanol, (b) a mixture of methanol and ethanol, and (c) a mixture of methanol, ethanol and water, and recovering the bland blood cell protein isolate as the extraction residue.